Business Resources

The Main Street Program is committed to supporting our current and future downtown business and property owners.

Business Improvement & Growth (BIG) Grants

The City of San Marcos is now accepting applications for the BIG Grant Program. BIG will provide technical and financial assistance to property owners or business tenants seeking to renovate or restore facades, signage, lighting and life-safety systems for commercial buildings through a 50% matching grant of up to $20,000. An additional 50% matching grant up to $5,000 is available for removal and replacement of non-conforming signage.

Additional Information

Downtown Co-Marketing Fund

The Downtown Co-Marketing program will provide matching advertising funds for businesses to promote their business in areas outside of San Marcos or placed at locations that are directly linked to tourism to meet the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Code requirements. The co-marketing fund is limited to the amount funded by City Council per fiscal year and are available on a first come, first served. $30,000 is the amount funded for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.To apply for the grants or for more information, businesses may contact the Main Street Program office.

Acceptable Uses for Co-Marketing Fund (Approval is Not Guaranteed)

Assistance Through Texas Historical Commission

Design

The Texas Main Street Program provides design assistance to official Main Street cities. These services are offered to individual building and business owners within the designated Main Street District at no charge. Services provided range from facade renderings to Investment Tax Credit Assistance. Businesses may contact the Main Street Program office to apply.

Economic Development

The Main Street Program of the Texas Historical Commission provides economic development assistance to participating Main Street cities. These services are offered to building and property owners as well as developers exploring investment opportunities within the designated Main Street District at no charge. Services range from SWOT analysis to Economic Impact Studies. Businesses may contact the Main Street Program office to apply.

Graffiti Abatement

Keep San Marcos Beautiful's graffiti techs work hard to remove all graffiti on public property using specialized environmentally safe sprays and color-matched paints. Non-permitted flyer and sticker removal is also a task of our Graffiti Techs. If you need help removing graffiti from your privately owned building we can help. Contact us for more info! You can also help us keep downtown looking good by reporting graffiti using the SMTX Connect app.

One-on-One Consultation

Main Street staff is available for one-on-one consultations to talk marketing strategies, community involvement, or just to catch up on all things downtown!